AllFreeNovel
Share Us
When we get to my club, I ask my friend who works at the reception desk about upgrading my membership temporarily. It’s not a problem, and she gives me the key to a private dressing room that I can use today.
I swim for an hour and a half—longer than usual—and I’m a bit more relaxed afterward. I’d feel better if Caleb wasn’t standing near my lane, eyeballing anyone who approaches, but that’s inevitable with him on the job. When I’m done, I shower and dress and dry my hair in the dressing room while Caleb stands outside, looking intimidating.
On the way back, we go over the rest of the day. I tell him as much as I can remember about the community center, the location for my art experience this afternoon, and my friends who will be attending dinner. He takes mental note of that information as he drives and asks a lot of follow-up questions. Some of them don’t feel relevant to me, but I answer them all anyway since he’s the professional and he clearly knows what he’s doing.
I’m starving by the time we get back to town, so I ask him to stop at one of my favorite restaurants to pick up a chicken wrap for lunch. Caleb says he doesn’t need anything, but I get him a club sandwich anyway.
I know he’s on duty, but surely it’s okay for him to eat when we’re back at my house.
When we get home, I eat and do a few things around the house while he double-checks the perimeter and the security system he installed yesterday. I do notice he takes his sandwich with him, and he’s finished it by the time he returns.
By that point, it’s time for us to head to the community center to get things ready and meet the folks who signed up for my art experience. My cottage is less than two miles from the small downtown area filled with historic buildings and cute shops aimed at tourists, so I usually walk, but Caleb prefers to drive and I don’t argue.
Gracie, the older lady who handles the administrative duties for the community center, is intrigued and excited by Caleb’s presence. I give her a brief explanation, which only interests her even more. I double-check the registrants today—one has added, so there will be five—and then go to the storage room to pull out enough easels, canvases, and art supplies for everyone.
I don’t ask Caleb to help. He’s not allowed, and it’s not fair to put him in that position, although I used to demand he carry my shopping bags all the time. He’s supposed to be on guard and can’t be distracted by hauling my stuff.
When I’ve got it all pulled out and ready, I sit down to wait for the first arrivals. Caleb stands next to me and leans down to ask softly, “Why did you scowl when you looked at the list of folks signed up today?”
I glance up in surprise. “Did I?”
“Yes.”
I was trying to subdue my negative response, but evidently I hadn’t succeeded. “It’s nothing much.”
“Tell me anyway.”
I want to roll my eyes at him since I’m not entirely fond of the understated bossiness of his tone. But I remind myself yet again that he’s trying to do a job. “It’s just that someone else signed up. Marcus Trent. He’s a local, works for a car dealership in town.”
“Why don’t you like him?”
“I don’t know. He hasn’t done anything genuinely inappropriate. But he seems… too interested. He used to attend all the time when I was doing these experiences in the evening and on weekends. He asked me out a couple of times and I turned him down, but he still… hovered. There’s no specific reason for it, but he kind of gave me the creeps. I actually switched up my schedule to afternoons so he couldn’t attend as often.”
“Can’t you ban him from attending?” Caleb’s expression hasn’t really changed, but it still feels like he’s glowering.
“I guess so. But that would make a big production, and he hasn’t done anything. I might be blowing it out of proportion because I’ve been avoiding relationships lately.”
His blue eyes search my face. “If he gave you the creeps, there’s a reason for it. I’ll have a word with him if you want.”
I can only imagine what “a word” from Caleb might look like. I certainly wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of it.
To my shame, I actually like the idea. The thought of him scaring Marcus off fills me with intense relief and an unexpected kind of excitement.
But that isn’t Caleb’s job. I’m an adult and responsible for my own situation. Plus Marcus would no doubt resent it and cause a fuss in town, which I’d like to avoid.
So I shake my head and say, “Thank you for the offer, but no. He’s never done anything threatening. I just don’t like being around him. I can deal with it.”
“Okay. I’ll keep my eye on him today.”
I have no objections to that.
* * *
One of the locals doesn’t show up. Unfortunately, it’s not Marcus. Other than his smarmily smiling presence, everything goes fine as I explain the purpose and procedure for the experience, and then we make our way over to the scenic spot I’ve chosen. It’s only a mile away, so those who want to walk do, while the others ride in the van with me and the supplies.
Usually I drive, but Caleb does today.
When we arrive, I set up an easel too and talk them through how to begin. The locals are fairly experienced and so don’t need my introduction, but the tourist couple want some help getting started.
